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The second fourth-round pick in a bountiful 2008 draft that also saw the Senators select Erik Karlsson, Patrick Wiercioch, Zack Smith, Andre Petersson and Mark Borowiecki, Grant has stepped out of the shadows a quarter of the way through his second full season as a pro.

Through 19 games leading into Saturday’s tilt with the Milwaukee Admirals, the 6-foot-3, 200-pounder from Abbotsford, B.C. was tied for the Binghamton Senators team lead in goals, with seven.

Not bad for being the checking line’s centre, eh?

“Derek has been killing penalties great, and offensively he’s a threat every game,” said coach Luke Richardson. “He’s an honest, hard-working player, he’s a great kid. He’s got a smile on his face all the time.

“We’re trying to change that on the ice, get him a little meaner. And he is. We just want him to play with a bit of an edge, where he’s (saying) ‘this is my ice, this is my puck.’ He’s taken that, and he’s really doing well.

“He’s a great guy. Really happy for him.”

Ask Grant if he has a mean streak in him, and he answers with a grin. Of course.

“I think I’m getting one now,” he said. “It’s something coaches have always tried to get out of me and it probably wasn’t the easiest thing to do for me, but I try to flip the switch when I get on the ice. It’s just something you have to do to build that compete level. From faceoffs to defensive zone to trying to score goals. I think it’s something that’s helped me out a lot this year.

“I try to be a nice guy off the ice, and try to flip a switch when I get out there. Sometimes I like to have fun and joke around, but come game times I try to be serious. You’re competing for jobs with everyone in the league. It’s fun, but at the same time, you try to get the mean streak out a little bit.”

Grant went from the BCHL to Michigan State, where he had 20 goals and 43 assists through 72 games.

At the end of his second season with the Spartans, he was parachuted into Binghamton, where he had one goal, five assists and zero penalty minutes through 14 games. In 2011-12 with the B-Sens, he had eight goals, 15 assists and 26 PIMs through 60 games. Playing with wingers Mark Stone and David Dziurzynski on an all-big line this season, he has almost equalled his goal total from yester-year, and while he only has two assists, Grant has spent 15 minutes in the box.

And while Senators fans back in Ottawa are anxiously awaiting for the arrival of Jakob Silfverberg, Mika Zibanejad and Stone, Grant should be working himself into the conversation.

“The NHL lockout is tough on everyone, but it made our league and I think it’s making every one in the league better,” said Grant, who believes practising and watching with guys like those mentioned above has made him better, just as the more comfortable feeling a full-year’s experience has given him in the AHL.

“Hopefully we’ll see it end soon and guys get shots. Obviously you want to be one of those guys, but you try not to think about that too much. You just try to help your team out here, and go into each game the same way. Try to get the win. It’s been working out for us so far.”

Grant admires Rick Nash, a Senators trade target this past summer.

“I’ve always liked how he plays the game,” said the 22-year-old. “He’s a big guy who uses his body well. He’s someone I like to look up to and strive for that, but obviously he’s tremendously skilled and a big body that can play both ends of the ice. It’s something I’d like to be able to do.”

With that, the interview wraps up.

“I hope you enjoy your weekend in Bingo,” Grant tells the visiting reporter, a big grin on his face while he says it.

The second fourth-round pick in a bountiful 2008 draft that also saw the Senators select Erik Karlsson, Patrick Wiercioch, Zack Smith, Andre Petersson and Mark Borowiecki, Grant has stepped out of the shadows a quarter of the way through his second full season as a pro.

Through 19 games leading into Saturday’s tilt with the Milwaukee Admirals, the 6-foot-3, 200-pounder from Abbotsford, B.C. was tied for the Binghamton Senators team lead in goals, with seven.

Not bad for being the checking line’s centre, eh?

“Derek has been killing penalties great, and offensively he’s a threat every game,” said coach Luke Richardson. “He’s an honest, hard-working player, he’s a great kid. He’s got a smile on his face all the time."